Belgium is wrong to ban halal

At the start of next month, Wallonia will become the second region in Belgium to ban the slaughter of animals without the use of a stun gun. Flanders introduced a similar ban at the beginning of the year. Essentially, these bans make it illegal to produce halal and kosher meat. This has understandably caused concern for Belgium’s Jewish and Muslim communities. A ban will severely impact the ability of both groups to eat meat in accordance with their religious teaching.

There is some debate as to whether the ban violates the Belgian constitution, article 19 of which is supposed to guarantee ‘freedom of worship’ and ‘its public practices’. The European Convention on Human Rights, to which all EU member states are signatories, is also supposed to guarantee freedom of religion. However, other EU countries &#8211’ Denmark, Sweden and Slovenia – have also banned traditional slaughter. The Belgian Constitutional Court has called on the European Court of Justice to issue a ruling on the ban in Flanders, but it could take up to two years to produce a decision.

Religious freedom is essential in a free society. Muslims and Jews must be free to follow their religions. Those who disapprove of halal and kosher slaughter, instead of imposing those values on others, should refuse to buy meat that is produced using those methods. Amendment 205 of the EU’s food information regulation stipulates that the way an animal was killed must be stated on all packaging. While there were some objections from Muslim and Jewish groups to the regulation at the time it was introduced, it is surely better to allow everyone to make an informed choice about what they eat, rather than having an outright ban on the practice.

The religious slaughter of meat is a controversial issue that usually pits animal rights and welfare against religious freedom. Worryingly, in the UK, free speech is also at stake in the discussion. While Belgium is wrong to ban halal meat, the UK has effectively ringfenced the practice from criticism. Any questioning of halal methods is labelled ‘Islamophobic’ and therefore illegitimate. Take the recent instance of a 16-year-old vegetarian facing disqualification from her religious-studies GCSE because she criticised halal slaughter. In her exam paper, she described halal as ‘absolutely disgusting’. This was taken by the exam board to constitute an ‘obscene racial comment’. The decision was overturned, but only after an appeal from her school.

So while Belgium bans halal, the British education system comes dangerously close to banning criticism of halal. Both examples represent a failure to stand up for freedom. We must respect the freedom of religious groups to practice their religions. But we must also stand up for the freedom of others to criticise those practices.

Ralph Musgrave

4th September 2019 at 4:06 am

“Religious freedom is essential in a free society.” Complete bullshit. I follow the Aztec religion which involves human sacrifice (cutting open peoples’ chests while they’re still concious and pulling out their hearts). Should I be allowed to do that?

There is a very basic principle here in connection with migration: host countries are under no obligation whatever to make any concessions whatever to the culture of immigrants – if immigrants do not like the host country’s culture, they are free to leave.

Hana Jinks

28th August 2019 at 11:30 pm

Hey. Intern girl. Why is it that you’re legitimizing islam by speaking of it as if it’s deserving of a say in Europe? And why are gou conflating kosher and goat-phucker practices as if they’re comparable?

Hana Jinks

JeanClawed Brexit

“While there were some objections from Muslim and Jewish groups to the regulation at the time it was introduced,”

Yes .. we can see what their instincts are .. all for us and nothing for anyone else (in the way of information). The complete antithesis of a free society.

JeanClawed Brexit

27th August 2019 at 9:20 pm

“Religious freedom is essential in a free society. Muslims and Jews must be free to follow their religions.”

They also need to obey the law. If the law was not introduced mendaciously to persecute them, then they definitely need to obey it.

If they don’t obey the law .. why should anyone else ?

Amin Readh

28th August 2019 at 3:42 pm

It is a law specifically designed for such purpose.

N V

28th August 2019 at 10:28 pm

Religion is always the last to think of human or animal rights – it takes other more compassionate to get things done and fight for reforms needed to bring religion uptodate.
There are lots of religious laws no longer followed – This I hope will be another put to the wayside.

Willie Penwright

27th August 2019 at 7:49 pm

The welfare of the animal is a consideration that is neglected in this article.
Foie gras is banned in Britain and much of the world as it inflicts needless cruelty on the animal. This consideration should trump the wishes of nasty old men in silly hats, whether Jewish, Muslim or anything else.

Amin Readh

28th August 2019 at 3:47 pm

“Foie gras is banned in Britain and much of the world as it inflicts needless cruelty on the animal.”

Odd that! Impregnating cows to produce milk is ignored by most – except Vegans. But then itsy bitsy things like foie gras is banned just to make a few people feel better.

Willie Penwright

28th August 2019 at 6:25 pm

It is possible to prohibit the cruel slaughter of lambs without banning the dairy industry. If that is your main concern, any law prohibiting animal cruelty is a step in the right direction.

James Knight

27th August 2019 at 6:11 pm

I heard a vegan the other day boasting that he doesn’t “need” to eat meat.

He’s right. We don’t. We also don’t need Christmas or Birthdays. We don’t “need” art, literature or books. We don’t need to travel or socialise. We don’t “need” love or even sex any more for the species to survive.

Life can always be reduced to existence.

Neil McCaughan

27th August 2019 at 5:54 pm

Halal slaughter should never have been permitted in Britain in the first place. Time to follow Belgium’s excellent example.

Amin Readh

28th August 2019 at 1:24 am

@ Neil McCaughan

Why not? What you are really saying Muslims shouldn’t have been allowed in. Brave up, and say it, coward. If you granddaddy had not gone adventuring then there wouldn’t have been a trail home. Curse the w*ankers. I do!

Hana Jinks

28th August 2019 at 4:36 am

Has anyone even been considering the impact on the innocent victims of this ” social experiment”, Amin? I lived in Asia for an extended period of time and found the casual racism to be humiliating and infuriating. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to be borne into that.

Anthony Dennison

27th August 2019 at 4:24 pm

“Belgium is wrong to ban halal”

No it isn’t.

Jane 70

27th August 2019 at 4:43 pm

We should follow Belgium’s lead.

Amin Readh

28th August 2019 at 3:40 pm

Yes, it is. Is it going to stop milk production? Forcibly impregnating cows to produce it and then slaughtering the male? Factory farming, where chickens are manufactured for production? In fact, is it going to stop the meat industry at all? I doubt it. So it is wrong to ban halal/kosher.

christopher barnard

27th August 2019 at 2:39 pm

I think this battle is lost.

I asked a work colleague of mine about Halal and Kosher slaughter. She is an ardent animal rights campaigner, raising money for the RSPCA and other animal charities..

She simply refused to answer. She said nothing, just as if I had not asked the question.

Silence is what political correctness has reduced many people to, on this matter and many others.

Jane 70

Worth reading.
PC-think has stultified freedom of expression and led to an epidemic of intellectual stagnation.
The woke inquisitors are constantly adding to their list of heresies.

Ven Oods

28th August 2019 at 2:47 pm

“She simply refused to answer.”

There could be a number of reasons for that…
* The question upset her
* She thought you were going to argue, and couldn’t be bothered
* She was having a bad day, or suffering a headache
* She’d discussed it with others and knew that it changed nothing…

jessica christon

27th August 2019 at 2:23 pm

I eat meat. And to anyone else who eats meat it means that animals are being slaughtered for your pleasure and mine (and it is pleasure, not necessity because we don’t need to eat meat) regardless of whether they feel more or less pain in the process. If you eat meat, then at least admit that whatever concern for animal welfare you claim to have, it doesn’t go so far that you would deprive yourself of the pleasure you take in eating meat and that is a big reason why you do not sound serious when you protest Halal. Can you not even see that?

I am reminded the argument in the US by states and individuals who support the death penalty but insist that it’s done in a “clean” way, ie by lethal injection instead of electrocution/gassing. It’s just a little comfort blanket they give themselves to make them feel better about doing what is essentially the same thing.

Bri -an

27th August 2019 at 3:45 pm

” because we don’t need to eat meat”
To stay alive some of us do.
I nearly died of anaemia through eating insufficient meat.
That would have been OK would it?
Thanks for wisshing me dead, but I just don’t agree with you. Geddit?

Winston Stanley

27th August 2019 at 4:33 pm

B, maybe she was talking generally and not specifically about you, b/c its not all about you? That is no reason to get all dramatic and rude is it now?

Jane 70

27th August 2019 at 4:42 pm

Vegetarian for 40 years and not anaemic : a properly balanced vegetarian diet-and yes, it does require regular supplementation with B12- does not lead to anemia.

Many people who aren’t vegetarian suffer from anaemia for a variety of reasons and Winston is correct : Jessica Christon’s comment was not aimed at you .

My late mum was a life long meat eater but she always used the now,sadly ,defunct Real Meat Shop in Bath, which was renowned for its commitment to animal welfare and reputable abattoirs.

jessica christon

27th August 2019 at 5:25 pm

It’s another topic, but this is that insidious part of language policing; it’s more subtle and harder to put your finger on but it works like this: if you use even the most bleeding obvious of generalities, someone will come along taking phoney offense and personalising it, throwing the victim card and accusing all kind of heinous motive which no sensible reader would perceive.

Using generalities is a normal way of communicating and it showd that you credit your audience with the intelligence that they will understand it for what it is. So, if some don’t “geddit” – or if they pretend not to – that’s their problem not mine.

jessica christon

27th August 2019 at 5:52 pm

“My late mum was a life long meat eater but she always used the now,sadly ,defunct Real Meat Shop in Bath, which was renowned for its commitment to animal welfare and reputable abattoirs.”

Jane 70 can you help me understand this because I have this ongoing discussion with a colleague who is really into animal rights and welfare but by god does she love a steak!

I think it’s impossible to be a 100% ethical comsumer if you live a modern lifestyle, but going without the steak seems like it should be an easy choice if you are truly upset by the idea of animals being killed. I put it down to compartmentalisation at some level.

Jane 70

28th August 2019 at 5:27 am

No easy answers Jessica: my mum loved animals but also loved meat.
Her solution was to buy meat from the shop which supplied cuts from farms which raised animals on grazing pastures and which ensured that slaughter took place nearby and was preceded by stunning.
It’s up to you, I guess, to decide where you buy your meat, and to investigate the supply chains.
Sadly, over the many years since I first became a vegetarian, I’ve noticed that concern for animal welfare in general seems to have receded.
Now , a few shouty groups on either side of the divide dominate.
Finally, a group of vegans has apparently taken control of a slaughter house in Kent.

jessica christon

28th August 2019 at 10:44 am

Makes sense. Thanks for the reply! 🙂

Winston Stanley

27th August 2019 at 1:59 pm

It is not crystal why religious people should have more rights than others but I suppose that there is not really any reason for anything if you go into it. Surely the conscience of each is equal and I do not see why ars bishop Welby should have more rights than the rest of us. Anyway, were the state serious about religious freedom it would concede that rasta has the right to light up his sacraments, including those of the non-theistic, non-dogmatic profession. Some gods are more equal than others it seems? Obviously laws are just as made up as religions so there is not really any need for consistency either.

Winston Stanley

27th August 2019 at 2:19 pm

Should religious people be allowed to own slaves if their religion tells them that they can, as the three “great” religions clearly do? What about child sacrifice? Or the brutal exorcism of minors which has a place in some religious traditions? Why do ko sher / halal and MGM get a special free pass?

It looks like religious freedom is a pretence, like “but isn’t it nice to pretend that we live in a country that has freedom of religion?” It is up there with “isn’t it nice to pretend that we live in a democracy or that we have free speech?” After all, we get to militarily invade other countries on that pretext. The British state is largely based on pretence and pretexts rather than realities, it is domestic and geopolitical strategy.

Bri -an

27th August 2019 at 4:17 pm

“Should religious people be allowed to own slaves if their religion tells them that they can, as the three “great” religions clearly do?”
This is the first time I have read your writing, Winston. And I just wonder how you manage to live with yourself!
Hum! Not recognising human dignity seems to be your problem.
Taking it into the animal kingdom, I suggest.
Of course some animals survive by eating other animals.
‘Wrong’, somehow, are they?
‘Kill them the ‘wrong way’, do they?
Perhaps you are thinking the The Hunting Act 2004 should be extented to all meat eaters?
Nice to have met you, I doubt we shall ‘meat’ again!

Winston Stanley

27th August 2019 at 4:30 pm

B, I have no issue with halal meat or ko sher salt. I am not especially ritualistic about food so I do not get so when other people do. I take the Humza range of samosas, their lamb samosas are fantastic. And there is a fantastic chicken tandoori that I think is halal. Lovely with a glass of wine. Sorry, what were you talking about again?

Hana Jinks

28th August 2019 at 4:39 am

We’re being made totalitarianized wage-slaves, Winston,.

jessica christon

27th August 2019 at 6:02 pm

My local butcher is halal; the meat is better quality and better priced with more variety of cuts than you ever see in the supermarket. And they do goat meat which tastes delicious and it’s not even half the price of lamb (i think that’s the nearest tasting equivalent). I’m not bothered by halal either, but if they ban it I’ll live!

Jerry Owen

27th August 2019 at 8:07 pm

Whoopi do for you !

Hana Jinks

28th August 2019 at 4:41 am

Goat has a very similar taste to beef, Jessica.

Fark off, oven-bitch.

Hana Jinks

28th August 2019 at 4:42 am

(Jessica. Jerry “Babydoll” Oven-Bitch is oven-bitch.)

jessica christon

28th August 2019 at 10:37 am

@ Hana – I know that’s your name for him and all credit to you; the German pronunciation works well 😉

Winston Stanley

28th August 2019 at 6:26 pm

Jess, thanks for the heads up about goat, I have never tried that. I am a bit of a supermarket softy, perhaps I will venture to a high st butchers some time – may need a swig of gin to brace myself for that.

Hana Jinks

jessica christon

29th August 2019 at 11:03 am

Good god Jerry you’re being really dense on this one. In German they pronounce the ‘W’ as a ‘V’, so they’d pronounce your “Owen” as “Oven” and that’s why I jokingly made that post to Hana. It wasn’t an assumption on your nationality and in truth I have no idea why Hana names you like that – but it’s funny and it suits you.

jessica christon

29th August 2019 at 11:07 am

Go for it Winston it’s one of the tastiest meats out there! 🙂

jessica christon

29th August 2019 at 12:00 pm

Nice @ Hana. Before I clicked on it I thought it might be the Hitler audition 😁

Hana Jinks

jessica christon

Wonderful, I love the original but I’m a big fan of Will Ferrell too. We have to treasure things like this because it wouldn’t be allowed to be made today! 👍

JeanClawed Brexit

27th August 2019 at 9:26 pm

Well said … nail on head about the Rastas !

Danny Rees

27th August 2019 at 1:21 pm

As an unashamed carnivore I could not give a stuff about kosher or Halal.

If people that bothered about these practices they should go vegan

Neil McCaughan

27th August 2019 at 5:51 pm

Grovelling to the postal vote as usual?

Danny Rees

27th August 2019 at 8:51 pm

Muslims only vote by post?

harry briggs

27th August 2019 at 1:07 pm

Yes it makes perfect sense for the majority of meat eaters to look elsewhere while the supermarkets cater to the minority, it’s time to put pressure on the big supermarkets to end Halal and Kosher.

Danny Rees

27th August 2019 at 1:19 pm

As a meat eater I could not give a toss about whether the meat in the supermarket is kosher or Halal or not.

It’s all meat to me.

You want to impose your views on supermarket shoppers.

Anthony Dennison

27th August 2019 at 4:27 pm

As someone who uses the toilet I couldn’t give a stuff if someone decides to start doing it outside my front door.

Danny Rees

27th August 2019 at 8:52 pm

That is the worst false equivalence ever written.

Amin Readh

27th August 2019 at 1:50 pm

Neither religious Muslims or Jews buy their meat from supermarkets. Likely the only meat that might be Halal is if the dead animal is bought from a Muslim country. Even then unlikely. This is mostly a myth to wind up people like you.

Jane 70

27th August 2019 at 12:58 pm

What a foolish article: we no longer indulge in the barbaric ‘sports’ of bear baiting, cock fighting and dog fighting: at least, not legally!

Most western societies now recognise and accept that animals deserve protection, consideration of their interests and appropriate welfare legislation. There is still much room for improvement.

Not so long ago, societies not so far removed from ours, dictated that helpless animals could be brought before a court of law, found guilty and executed.

Animals suspected of being witches’ familiars were burned in public.

Yet this writer believes that out dated religious methods of slaughter should take precedence over contemporary animal welfare concerns.

I suggest that the author seeks advice from the British Veterinary Association, the RSPCA and the RCVS.

Religious rituals should adapt and move with the times; they would attract a lot more respect from those who do not share their particular beliefs if they did so.

gershwin gentile

27th August 2019 at 12:39 pm

I’ve always thought it funny that the “stunning” of an animal is any less/more cruel/kind than cutting it’s throat (and the nerves) so it bleeds to death while being unaware of the claret gushing from it’s neck.

Neil John

27th August 2019 at 1:45 pm

Your understanding of the method and animal physiology is sadly lacking, cutting the major blood vessels and windpipe does not get anywhere near the spinal cord, thankfully most halal slaughter in the UK is done with halal approved stunning. The road-side halal slaughter practised in some enclaves however…

Bri -an

27th August 2019 at 4:20 pm

Get informed!
Its the loss os blood pressure that shuts the brain down.
Happens to humans whatever the cause.

Simon Giora

27th August 2019 at 12:24 pm

“Those who disapprove of halal and kosher slaughter, instead of imposing those values on others, should refuse to buy meat that is produced using those methods.”. Not sure the animal being inhumanely killed has a choice. Your argument is weak and does not justify cruelty to animals. https://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/slaughter.

Jerry Owen

27th August 2019 at 12:44 pm

S Giora
I believe that halal meat is served with pride ih many Muslim countries around the globe. Halal meat does not originate from Belgian shores and thus it should be banished for the barbaric practice it is.

Danny Rees

27th August 2019 at 1:20 pm

Do you think other forms of slaughter should be banished?

Amin Readh

27th August 2019 at 1:58 pm

Jerry – you are just a spiteful and hypocritical bigot. Factory farming doesn’t worry you. Taking the life of an animal doesn’t. You still enjoy meat… but it is just that one method of killing the poor beasts does.

Hana Jinks

28th August 2019 at 6:36 am

Amin. You needn’t be so gracious towards this nazi-coward. He’s more than happy to be trolling people he thinks he can hurt….and make no mistake, he really hurt Linda. I know, because the words he used towards her caused a pain in MY heart. Just imagine how she must’ve felt.

Jane 70

27th August 2019 at 1:01 pm

Thanks for the link; I’ve signed.

Amelia Cantor

27th August 2019 at 11:10 am

Scratch a white, find a racist. But I’m very comfortable with this Islamophobic initiative. It’s a sign that white Belgians are waking up to the terrible truth: that the Muslim community and other communities of colour are the future. That’s why they’re lashing out in a vain attempt to pretend that the demographic trends aren’t running directly against them.

But hate will not win. Love will win, and Islamophobia will follow racism, sexism and homophobia where it belongs: into the cess-pit of history.

Neil McCaughan

27th August 2019 at 11:46 am

Quiet day in the public lavatories?

Jim Lawrie

27th August 2019 at 11:59 am

Your three phobias are alive and well wherever there is a Muslim.

I heard an Arab woman the other day repeatedly refer to a black checkout assistant as a Khafir because he made her pay for twelve bottles of water when she said ten. She was speaking to her children.

Simon Giora

27th August 2019 at 12:25 pm

“Love will win..” Animals don’t count?

gershwin gentile

27th August 2019 at 12:34 pm

Is it love to kill people for being gay? Is that your idea of love?

Danny Rees

27th August 2019 at 1:20 pm

Ha ha you are even funnier than she is.

Jane 70

27th August 2019 at 1:03 pm

‘Love will win’ : sharia law for all? No thank you

Danny Rees

27th August 2019 at 1:21 pm

Still trolling with your rubbish attempt to parody the left?

Amin Readh

27th August 2019 at 1:56 pm

“Belgians are waking up to the terrible truth: that the Muslim community and other communities of colour are the future.”

Why thank you. We really are.

Gerard Barry

27th August 2019 at 2:13 pm

Ah so you’re admitting that a sort of “replacement” of white Christians is taking place in Europe? And we were told all along that this was just a baseless conspiracy theory!

Hana Jinks

Dominic Straiton

“love” never wins. And nor should it. “People of colour” sold their own into slavery. The Germans loved Hitler. Hate is a much more powerful emotion which is why your full of it.

JeanClawed Brexit

27th August 2019 at 9:23 pm

Looking forward to love winning between Islamic & LGBTetc “communities” .. like it has in Birmingham schools !

Hana Jinks

28th August 2019 at 9:55 am

…that could be a tricky one.

Jerry Owen

27th August 2019 at 8:32 am

Not being able to eat halal meat does not affect your ability to worship, knocking down a mosque does, but we don’t advocate that.
If Christians believed in eating halal meat would it stop them worshipping Christ in church.. of course not.
Islam and Jewry need to modernize this is the 21st century animals killed by having their throats slit is inhumane. Fox hunting is banned , we now have alternative ‘fox hunting’ methods.
Why don’t they have token halal meat such as ‘soya halal’.. the thing about religion is you can have tokenism to replace traditionalism.
We don’t burn witches anymore, we don’t need to slit throats anymore. If Islam and Jewry cannot accept the cruelty involved it shows just how fragile their respective religions are.. or indeed how cruel their religions are.
Either way it isn’t a good look.

Amin Readh

27th August 2019 at 1:55 pm

Yes. Factory farm chickens and other animals but have “token” hysteria about halal & kosher. Impregnate cows and others to produce milk so that it readily available. But then all that squeamishness is over an animal that you don’t stun… wait for it… before you kill it! Priceless.

Just your usual bigotry then eh, Jello? If you are not so keen on animal eating try going vegan. Then at least less of the bigotry and hypocrisy.

Jerry Owen

27th August 2019 at 8:05 pm

Bigotry … Look in the mirror sometime , you racist.

Danny Rees

27th August 2019 at 8:53 pm

What did she say that’s racist?

Amin Readh

28th August 2019 at 1:19 am

@ Jerry Owen

Yes bigotry, cuck. Deal with it.

Amin Readh

28th August 2019 at 1:20 am

@ Danny Rees

He. Not she. Haven’t had me knackers chopped of yet! He couldn’t think up of a response so he threw the accusation in.

Hana Jinks

28th August 2019 at 5:06 am

Amin. I’ve found out that Jerry “Babydoll” Oven-Bitch’s name is ..De Luxe Owen. If you provide any further details then that would be appreciated.